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A Savant Article

CineSavant shows off an arcane observation: in 1957, scenes from a glossy CinemaScope Fox production directed by Raoul Walsh, were almost immediately re-purposed, with grandiose special effects added, for a landmark science fiction fantasy. It’s an opportunity to admire the resourceful artistry of Jack Rabin, Louis DeWitt and Irving Block, special effects professionals that did fine work but were seldom if ever considered for industry awards.

Back in the 1970s I picked up from Larry Edmunds’ Bookstore a copy of a one-shot special effects fan magazine that I think had been put together by the effects master/researcher Robert Skotak. The photo magazine lauded the efforts of a Hollywood effects partnership consisting of Jack Rabin, Irving Block and Louis DeWitt. Their names appeared on dozens of 1950s films, for their creative optical work — whatever enhancements might be needed, from simple title sequences to matte shots and even stop-motion animation when required.

"It's morphin' time!" Funko has released a new line of Pop! vinyl figures and Pocket Pop! Keychains based on the upcoming Power Rangers movie! Also in today's Highlights: second season details for the On Story radio program, Drifter acquisition details, and Comet TV's January programming.

Funko's Power Rangers Collectibles Release Details / Images: From Funko: "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers

To celebrate the upcoming release of their all-new major motion picture, in theaters March 24th, 2017, the Power Rangers are getting fired up with Funko-fied fury!

Zack, Kimberly, Billy, Trini, and Jason are coming soon to Pop! Vinyl and Pocket Pop! Keychains!

You can also collect the villainous Rita Repulsa, available exclusively at Hot Topic!

This winter, it's morphin' time!

Available now!

Pop! Keychains: Power Rangers

Available now!"

Images via Funko:

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On Story Radio Show Second Season Details: Press Release: "Austin, Texas - January 4, 2017 - Austin Film Festival (Aff), also known as "The Writers Festival,...

William Schallert and Patty Duke.

 

Popular character actor William Schallert has died at age 93, having been active in the acting community right up through recent years. Schallert was a familiar face to retro movie and TV fans, even if his name was not as well known. He is remembered by many for playing the harried father of teenage Patty Duke in the 1960s sitcom "The Patty Duke Show". (In a tragic coincidence, Ms. Duke also recently passed away.) Schallert was much beloved by science fiction and horror fans for his appearances in TV series such as "Commander Cody", "Space Patrol", "Men Into Space" and "The Twilight Zone".

Artist Pete Emslie's tribute to Schallert. (For more of Emslie's artistic creations, visit The Cartoon Cave.)

In feature films Schallert appeared in the cult classics "Them!", "The Incredible Shrinking Man", "Colossus: The Forbin Project" as well as the 1983 feature film "Twilight Zone: The Movie...

As the final four "Biggest Loser" contestants take on the challenge of a marathon tonight, we sat down with host Ali Sweeney to find out how this busy mom of two manages it all -- and keeps her family and herself healthy in the process.

We caught up with Ali as she hosted (with son, Ben, happily at hand) the Crest Glide Tight Space Challenge. Participants had fun completing an obstacle course and winning prizes -- but most importantly Glide donated $20,000 to Feeding America, the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity and an organization Ali has worked closely with for years.

Momlogic: With two jobs and two young kids, how do you balance it all?

Alison: Balancing is exactly the right word because it is all about finding time for everything. But for me, it doesn't have to balance at the end of the day (like a checking account), it has...

Paul Burke was a leading actor from the 1950s and the star of the 1957 horror film The Disembodied. He starred as Tom Maxwell, an author and adventurer who runs afoul of voodoo queen Allison Hayes when he becomes part of a romantic triangle with the queen and her older husband while on an expedition in the deep jungles of Africa.

Burke was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on July 21, 1926, and was the son of boxer Martin Burke. He went to Hollywood in the mid-1940s and studied acting as the Pasadena Playhouse. He began his film career in the early 1950s with small roles in several films including the talking-mule fantasies Francis Goes to West Point (1952) and Francis in the Navy (1955). He moved up to larger roles later in the decade with the voodoo horror film The Disembodied (1957).

He also became a familiar face on television from the 1950s, with...